The Best Places To Road Trip In Scotland Summer 2021

International travel may be possible by the end of the year, but many Scots will choose to travel around this beautiful country this summer. Here’s the best places to go for an epic Scottish road trip!

A road trip in Scotland offers beautiful scenery, amazing experiences, inspiring history, and of course, friendly and welcoming locals! Depending on what you are looking for, the length of your road trip can vary from a weekend to a couple weeks, or more.

North Coast 500 

Arguably the most well-known route, this trip starts and ends in Inverness. The first stop is Applecross, following along to the towns of Torridon and Ullapool, before passing through Caithness and John o’Groats (some of the most northerly coastal points in Scotland). From there, you will head south again through Dingwall and back to Inverness. 

This trip covers 516 miles, and booking in advance for accommodation is recommended. It should also take at least 5-7 days to complete.

South West Coastal 300

If you prefer to travel around southern Scotland, this route offers beautiful coastal scenery and stunning forests. It is recommended to take around 5-7 days. As the name suggests, this trip covers 300 miles and starts in Dumfries, leading to Kirkcudbright and then Portpatrick. From there, you will travel to Sanquhar and then back to Dumfries.

North East 250

This road trip is a quieter alternative to the North Coast 500, and is perfect for a campervan or motorhome tour. There are plenty of caravan parks along the way, and should take you approximately 4 days to complete. Starting in Spittal of Glenshee, you will travel north to Aberlour, before heading to Banff. Day 3 should take you to Maryculter, and use the final day to return to Glenshee.

Borders Historic Route

Another shorter road trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 20 minutes to complete. This starts in Carlisle and ends in Edinburgh, taking in stunning scenery and impressive history along the way.

Clyde Valley Tourist Route

Our final recommendation takes you through rolling hills and lush farmland, starting in Abington and ending in Hamilton. The shortest on this list, this trip should only take 30 minutes to drive.

If you're up for an adventure this summer, check out our range of new and used cars here. Putting the seats down in the back of the car can transform your vehicle into a cosy camper, however, we also have a range of vans if you want something a little bigger.